FEATURE: Masai warriors aim for Lord’s

The Masai team use cricket metaphors to deliver messages within their highly traditional and patriarchal community, in which early marriage and female genital mutilation are firmly rooted customs.

For Ngais, keeping the traditional dress is a way of showing that the team members are true Masais, while still working to move their society forward.

“We want to show people that we are trying to battle some of the retrogressive issues in our culture, but the good part of the culture, it’s there all the time,” he said, pointing to his necklaces.

While passionate about cricket, the team still need plenty of practice should they raise the funds to go to Lord’s, but professionals are optimistic that they will succeed.

Vikram Dayal, an ex-Mumbai cricketer heading a touring team playing in Kenya, was quick to praise the Masai’s “raw and natural talent” at the game, and said he is hopeful team members could one day “be playing for the national team.”